Death of a Gunfighter
| Death of a Gunfighter | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Don Siegel Robert Totten both credited as: Alan Smithee |
| Produced by | Richard E. Lyons |
| Written by | Lewis B. Patten Joseph Calvelli |
| Starring | Richard Widmark Lena Horne Carroll O'Connor |
| Music by | Oliver Nelson |
| Cinematography | Andrew Jackson |
| Editing by | Robert F. Shugrue |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
| Release date(s) | April, 1969 |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Death of a Gunfighter is a 1969 Western film. It is most notable for the first use of the pseudonymous Allen Smithee directorial credit. It stars Richard Widmark and Lena Horne, and features an original score by Oliver Nelson. The film develops its story around the "passing" of the West, the clash between a traditional character and the politics and demands of modern society.
The film began under the direction of Robert Totten, an experienced television director (Gunsmoke, The Legend of Jesse James). After clashes with star Widmark, and almost a year of work, he was dropped and replaced by Don Siegel. When the film was finished Siegel did not want his name to replace Totten's. Widmark protested and an agreement was made with the Directors Guild of America for the pseudonym Alan Smithee to be used.
Despite this, critics praised the film and its "new" director, with The New York Times commenting that the film was "sharply directed by Allen Smithee who has an adroit facility for scanning faces and extracting sharp background detail,"[1] and Roger Ebert commenting, "Director Allen Smithee, a name I'm not familiar with, allows his story to unfold naturally."[2]
[edit] Plot
In the town of Cottonwood Springs, Texas at the turn of the century, Marshal Frank Patch is an Old West style lawman in a community determined to be modern. When Patch kills drunken Luke Mills in self-defense, the town decides it is time for the marshal to resign. But Patch refuses, reminding the citizens that when he took the job, the agreement was he could have it as long as he wanted. The city fathers then decide the only way to remove Patch from office is by violence.
[edit] References
- ^ Thompson, Howard (May 10 1969). "Screen: Tough Western: 'Death of a Gunfighter' Stars Widmark" New York Times [1]
- ^ Roger Ebert's review of Death of a Gunfighter
[edit] External links
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